The Tyranny of Evidence…
Beverly Cusick, PT, MS, NDT, COF/BOC pushes back on the current culture of dependence on single-focus, short-term clinical studies that ignore the complex morbidities of cerebral palsy – and the sciences that address them.
Now Available!
The W-Sitting Controversy: Evidence and Science
A growing number of physicians and orthopedists are advising parents to let their children W-sit because it is comfortable for them. In this 90-minute pre-recorded webinar, Beverly Cusick investigates the evidence and the science supporting both this and the more common practice of discouraging habitual w-sitting.
Introductory Pricing: $45 thru August 31st!
The first program in the series The Golden Rule of Managing Pediatric Orthopedic and Motor Development is now available for your professional development – at your convenience, in a pre-recorded webinar!
Program 1: Early Postural Control Acquisition
In this hour-long webinar, Beverly (Billi) Cusick reviews key biomechanical and sensory-motor aspects of early postural control acquisition – the essential foundation for building competent limb use and movement skills. She then demonstrates her “golden rule” concept with two clinical cases, and provides a detailed Q&A segment based on the discussions from the original live webinar.
In conclusion, Ms. Cusick traces the timeline, mentors, and influences that led her to the development of the Golden Rule – a valuable review that ‘connects the dots’ between the contributions of numerous well-known pioneers in physical rehabilitation.
Kudos for Program 1:
I took a course from Billi over 20 years ago (Biomechanics) and it transformed my practice. Love how she integrated all the approaches (NDT, Sahrmann, Tschnarter etc..). Excellent information with clear application, and the science behind the art of postural control facilitation. It was concise, easy to follow, and packed full of golden nuggets. I actually bought Kathleen Porters book and will be sharing it with coworkers at the clinic including office staff!
Enjoyed the historical approach with references to the scientific basis behind the techniques. Good reminder of finding the balance between stability and mobility in order to enhance function.
Program 2: Expanding Postural Control into Movement
In Program 2, Ms. Cusick discusses the biomechanical and somatosensory aspects of the developing infant’s progress after stabilizing the body center of mass in prone and supine positions. In this next phase of early movement acquisition, lying leads to rolling and body weight is displaced in the frontal plane and elevated off the surface into quadruped position. The instructor’s golden rule is applied in suggested biomechanical and somatosensory strategies for remediating deficits.
Program 1 is a prerequisite for Program 2. | Download Program 2 course description
Attendees gave Program 2 a ‘thumbs up’:
It’s very difficult to get clear, concise information regarding infant motor development and I really appreciate the quality of information as well as the convenience of the presentation type.
Billi is a wealth of knowledge which she shares in a clear, concise and clinically applicable way… The webinar allows learning in 1 hours chunks of time, with the opportunity to watch again for the week that follows. The handout follows the slides exactly and can be downloaded ahead of time to maximize learning.
An Open Letter to Caretakers and Therapists for Children with Diplegic CP
Progressive GaitWays president and founder Beverly (Billi) Cusick writes:
“I’ve seen hundreds of families of children with diplegia, in consultation sessions in which I routinely undertake an orthopedic assessment and evaluate postural control, movement strategies, and existing orthoses. Common denominators have emerged that appear to operate to contribute to common problems of contracture development and recurrence, and to diminishing movement skills so often seen with advancing age in children with diplegia.
“I’ve composed the attached letter for caretakers and therapists of children with diplegia to bring them together in their understanding of the sources of many common musculoskeletal problems, and of the fundamental skills and strategies that are needed for effective remediation.”
Clinicians are welcome to download and share this letter with their colleagues, clients, and prescribing physicians.
¡Ahora disponible en español! (Translated by Ursula Ivancic, Kinesióloga Fisiatra Neurorehabilitación Pediátrica Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Certified Theratogs Fitter Labs – Levels I &II
TheraTogs Application Skills and Certification Lab
Attendees will be trained in – and experience – the use of TheraTogs garments and strapping strategies for enhancing postural alignment, postural control, and trunk muscle balance in procedures for enhancing hip stability and for the influencing functioning rotation at the hip and knee joints. Attendees will explain the difference between femoral antetorsion and anteversion and the relevance of this distinction to safe rotation strapping. Certified TheraTogs Fitter credentials will be awarded up successful completion of the lab sessions and exams for Levels I and II.
Prerequisites. This lab program is open only to clinicians who have completed the one-day seminar program entitled: Developmental Orthopedics of the Trunk & Lower Extremity and the subsequent Developmental Orthopedics Lab.
Enrollment is limited to 18 participants. Enrollment status is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
Dress for Lab. Lab enrollees should come dressed to fit and be fitted with TheraTogs systems, and to undergo LE assessments requiring skin marking and palpation of the greater trochanter and fibula head.
For more information. Download the following:
CTF Lab Brochure (PDF)
This introductory program features an overview of the processes and principles that contribute to pediatric orthopedic development. These principles are applied to pathomechanics commonly observed in children with hypotonia, cerebral palsy, excessive foot pronation, and intoed gait. The content presented in this program is considered fundamental to any (future) discussion of the specific features of orthopedic trunk and lower extremity development.
Download a full Course Description for reference.
NOTE: Attendees who complete this course are eligible for the one-day Certified TheraTogs Fitter labs which are now being scheduled March 14-18. Contact us for more information!
7.5 contact hours
LEVEL: Intermediate
This introductory program features an overview of the processes and principles that contribute to pediatric orthopedic development. These principles are applied to pathomechanics commonly observed in children with hypotonia, cerebral palsy, excessive foot pronation, and intoed gait. The content presented in this program is considered fundamental to any (future) discussion of the specific features of orthopedic trunk and lower extremity development.
Download a full Course Description for reference.
NOTE: Attendees who complete this course are eligible for the one-day Certified TheraTogs Fitter labs which are now being scheduled March 14-18. Contact us for more information!
7.5 contact hours
LEVEL: Intermediate
This introductory program features an overview of the processes and principles that contribute to pediatric orthopedic development. These principles are applied to pathomechanics commonly observed in children with hypotonia, cerebral palsy, excessive foot pronation, and intoed gait. The content presented in this program is considered fundamental to any (future) discussion of the specific features of orthopedic trunk and lower extremity development.
Download a full Course Description for reference.
NOTE: Attendees who complete this course are eligible for the one-day Certified TheraTogs Fitter labs which are now being scheduled March 14-18. Contact us for more information!
7.5 contact hours
LEVEL: Intermediate
Sponsored by…
Weeefun Therapy for Children, San Dimas, CA
This two-day course is designed for experienced Rehabilitation team members, including orthotists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, and pediatric orthopedists currently working with babies and younger children. This program features an overview of somatosensory function and development, the role of postural control in movement acquisition and physiologic adaptation, skeletal modeling mechanisms and influences with ideal and pathomechanical features of orthopedic development of the trunk and lower extremity.
For more details, review the full course description or download a copy for reference.
7.0 contact hours
LEVEL: Intermediate
Sponsored by…
Professional Therapies, Salt Lake City, UT
This program features an overview of somatosensory function and development, the role of postural control in movement acquisition and physiologic adaptation, skeletal modeling mechanisms and influences, and ideal and pathomechanical features of orthopedic development of the trunk and lower extremity.
View the course description or download a copy for reference.
14.0 contact hours • 14.0 Approved CE course by UPTA • 14.0 Pending with ABCOP
LEVEL: Intermediate
Sponsored by:
Target Audience: Rehabilitation team members, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, and pediatric orthopedists.
Course Description: This after-hours program details the scientific and clinical evidence which supports the well-known pediatric management principle: “proximal stability precedes distal mobility.”
The instructor describes the ideal sequence of neuromotor acquisition and resting postures, and documents the relationship of faulty trunk control to limb muscle contracture in children with diplegic CP. She explores a number of management strategies that include positioning and orthotic aids.
Finally, the instructor introduces the new, code-verified, TherAlign DragonFly™ TLSO System as an example of a modality that can effectively address postural management issues.
The lecture runs from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. 2.0 contact hours; CEU credits are pending.
Instructor: Deborah Stack, PT DPT PCS
Sponsored by:
Course Summary
This introductory program features a review of relevant pediatric orthopedic issues and sciences pursuant to neuromotor re-education for posture and torso alignment, including:
- Skeletal modeling mechanisms and influences
- The role of the somatosensory system in postural control acquisition and movement
- Fundamentals of S.A. Sahrmann’s muscle balance theory
- Practice-related skills acquisition
Attendees will validate their understanding of these principles and issues in the afternoon lab session, using the TheraTogs Posture & Torso Alignment system. Grouped in teams of three, attendees will be guided through a series of donning and strapping applications that demonstrate the biomechanical principles and management techniques reviewed in the morning session.
Instructor: Deborah Stack, PT DPT PCS
Sponsored by…
Brain and Spine Physiotherapy Clinic-Children Services, Navan, County Meath, Ireland
This program features an overview of somatosensory function and development, the role of postural control in movement acquisition and physiologic adaptation, skeletal modeling mechanisms and influences, and ideal and pathomechanical features of orthopedic development of the trunk and lower extremity.
View the course description or download a copy for reference.
7.0 contact hours
LEVEL: Intermediate
Developmental Orthopedics – Assessment Skills Lab Session
Lab participants will execute 14 musculoskeletal assessments on each other under supervision. These participants will complete the program by participating in a live case presentation in which they will be asked at random to execute an assessment procedure.
Prerequisites. This lab program is open only to clinicians who have completed the one-day or two-day versions of the seminar program entitled: Developmental Orthopedics of the Trunk & Lower Extremity.
Enrollment is limited to 15 participants. After 15 are registered, additional interested attendees may place themselves on a wait list. Enrollment status is determined on a first-come, first-served basis.
This is an intermediate-level course; prerequisite training is required as noted above, and pre-course review materials are issued.
Dress for Lab. Lab enrollees should come dressed to undergo LE assessments requiring skin marking and palpation of the greater trochanter and fibula head.
For more information. View a more complete description of the course here.